XenDesktop Editions

The number of XenDesktop editions in version 4.0 has been reduced from five, as was the case with XenDesktop 3.0 where there was the Express, Standard, Advanced, Enterprise and Platinum editions, to just three editions, VDI, Enterprise and Platinum. Technically an Express edition still exists with version 4.0 but this is really just a trial version to try out some of the features in XenDesktop and isn't really suited to deploy for use in a production (live) environment.

XenDesktop VDI Edition

The XenDesktop VDI Edition is the entry level edition and replaces the previous Standard Edition available in the XenDesktop 3 product line. The VDI Edition is the only edition to offer a concurrent licensing option, which is more commonly referred to as ConCurrent User (CCU) licensing. Per user and per device options are also available, giving this edition a flexible licensing approach.

The VDI edition will be for virtual desktops delivered from a data centre only using remote access, which means that only connections using the Citrix Desktop Receiver are possible and the virtual desktops can not be streamed to the users device (bare metal streaming). This limitation will also apply when the Citrix XenClient is launched later in the year.

The thinking behind the development of the VDI edition is to allow companies to 'test the water' when it comes to VDI technology. So those companies who want to implement a small scale deployment, to run a proof of concept for example, can do so at relatively little cost, especially if they elect to use the concurrent licensing model. There's always the option of upgrading to the next edition, if the small scale deployment becomes larger.

XenDesktop Enterprise Edition

The XenDesktop Enterprise Edition will only be available with per device and per user licensing options. On top of the remote virtual desktop access available as in the VDI edition, the Enterprise Edition will also allow desktops to be delivered to devices using streaming and allow the delivery off applications using Citrix XenApp Enterprise Edition functionality at no extra cost.

This XenApp functionality will provide application hosting and application streaming capabilities to be either used in conjunction with the virtual desktops or separately subject to the availability of sufficient licenses.

This flexibility in delivering applications, from being part of a virtual desktop as a core application, or included as a hosted application (accessed from the virtual desktop as a published application) or as streamed application delivered and cached into the virtual desktop, gives the possibility of many more applications being incorporated into the XenDesktop solution.

XenDesktop Platinum Edition

The XenDesktop Platinum Edition like the Enterprise Edition will only be available in a per user or per device licensing options and provide the functionality provided by the Enterprise Edition as well as including additional features:

- Citrix Access Gateway Edition (Secure Remote Access solution),

- Easy Call (VOIP type solution),

- Desktop Performance Monitoring (includes testing tools to measure/test environments),

- WAN Optimization (Network optimization for branch and remote offices),

- Desktop Support (Integrated 'Go To My PC' type support) and

- Password Manager (allowing Single Sign-On capability).

The XenApp functionality provided in the XenDesktop Platinum Edition will be based on the XenApp Platinum Edition and include functionality such as Single Sign On (SSO), Provisioning, recording and playback of sessions to name a few.

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